Flush mechanism for toilets



June 3, 1958 c. s. EDDOWES FLUSH MECHANISM FOR TOILETS Filed Oct. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

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BY QM June 3, 1958 c. s. EDDOWES FLUSH MECHANISM FOR TOILETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1955 Fig.5

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am a. w s. w g w w United States Patent FLUSH MECHANISM FOR TOILETS Cecil S. Eddowes, San Isidro, Lima, Peru Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,544

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-41) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in flush mechanisms for the flush tanks of toilets and more particularly to a float control valve for cutting ofl the inlet to the flush tank. 7

An important object of invention is to provide a cutoff valve for the inlet pipe of the flush tank and which is actuated by a float to close the valve in accordance with the level of water in the tank and which is also responsive to pressure of water entering the tank through the inlet to aid in closing the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel operating mechanism or simultaneously opening the usual discharge ball valve of a flush tank as well as for opening a water inlet valve for replenishing the supply of water to the tank.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of this character of simple construction, which is eflicient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a flush tank showing the valve operating mechanism therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan View; 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the valve for the water inlet and showing the valve in closed position;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the valve in open position;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the flush tank showing a modified handle construction;

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevational view with parts shown in section of the float for the inlet valve.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of invention the numeral 7 designates a toilet flush tank having a water inlet or supply pipe 8 connected to the bottom thereof and also having an outlet or discharge pipe 9 connected to the bottom thereof and leading to a toilet (not shown). The outlet or discharge pipe 9 includes a valve seat 10 for the usual rubber ball valve 11 and having an upstanding rod 12 attached thereto and slidable in a guide 13 attached to the overflow pipe 14.

An arm 15 is pivoted at an intermediate portion to the upper portion of the overflow pipe 14 for vertical swinging movement of the arm and one end portion of the arm is connected to the rod 12 by a linkage 16 having a slidable connection therewith during a closing movement of the ball valve. A counterbalance weight 17 is attached to 2,83fi,829 Patented June 3, 1958 ice the outer end of arm 15 and the inner end portion 18 of the arm freely underlies and is engaged by the lower end of a plunger 19 which is slidable in the top of the flush tank to project upwardly above the latter.

A bulbous valve housing 20 is constructed of a lower section 21 and an upper section 22 threadedly connected to each other and with the lower section 21 connected to the water inlet pipe 8 by a nipple 23.

The top of the valve housing 20 is formed with an opening 24 for the passage of water therefrom into the flush tank 7.

The opening 24 forms a valve seat for a valve 25 which is constructed with an upper conical portion 26 and a lower conical portion 27 to taper the valve at both its upper and lower portions. A rubber or other suitable resilient cover 28 is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the upper conical portion 26 of the valve to provide a liquid tight seal with the opening 24 when the valve is closed.

A valve rod 29 extends upwardly from the upper portion of valve 25 and is slidable in a guide 30 which is secured in a perpendicular position .above the valve housing 20 by a plurality of brace rods 31 which rigidly connect the guide 30 to the valve housing. A spherical float 32 is attached to the upper end of rod 29 and underlies the inner end portion 18 of the arm 15. The float is weighted as shown at 33 in Figure 8 of the drawing and a resilient bumper 34 is secured to the underside of the float to reduce noise of metal striking metal when the float is lowered in the guide 39.

The flush mechanism is actuated by depressing the plunger 19 which forces the inner end 13 of arm 15 downwardly to lower float 32 and open valve 25. Simultaneously the outer end portion of arm 15 is raised to lift the ball valve 11 from its seat 10 so that water in the flush tank is drained to a toilet bowl connected therewith. The ball valve 11 is of the usual semi-automatic construction whereby the same will close when water from the tank is drained to a predetermined level and the lowering of the float 32 will maintain valve 25 open for the inlet pipe 8 to replenish the supply to the tank. When the float rises to a predetermined level the valve 25 will be closed to cut ofl the inlet. The pressure of water entering the valve housing 20 will aid in keeping the valve element 25 closed in conjunction with the aid of the float 32.

The lower conical portion 27 of the valve element 25 reduces to a minimum the area subjected to the water pressure when the valve is in open position and the bulbous shape of the valve housing 20 permits suflicient passage of water around the valve element to reduce action of the water pressure tending to close the valve. Accordingly the weight of the float will keep the valve element 25 open until the water rises to a predetermined level in the tank. The counterbalance 17 at the outer end of the arm 15 relieves the float of the weight of the arm and plunger.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, the flushing mechanism is actuated by a handle 35 which is pivoted to a bracket 36 in an opening 37 in the front upper portion of the flush tank 38. The inner end of handle 35 overlies the ball float 39 and is positioned in a slot 40 at the inner end of an arm 41 which is pivoted to the overflow pipe 42 and the usual ball valve 43 is attached to the outer end of the arm.

A raising movement of the outer end of the handle will rock arm 41 to lower ball float 39 to open the inlet valve and the arm will simultaneously lift ball valve 43 to drain the tank.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled What'is claimed as new isl as follows? l 1 7 1. In a toilet flush mechanism,thecombination of a fiush tank having an inlet and an outlet, a semiautomatic inlet valve for the inlet, said inlet valve including a hous- 7 ing registered with isaid inlet and having an opening at its top forming a valve seat, a valve ele'r'nent in said housing, a valve rod secured to'saidvalve element, a guidehaving a passage in vertical alignment with said opening, said valve rod slidably disposed in said guide,ta'float connected to said rod for closing the inlet valve which is opened by a depressing movement of the float, a semi-automatic valve for theoutlet and opened by a raising movement, an arm pivoted inside the'tank and having one end portion overlyin'g'and in direct engagement with the float to depress thefloat for opening the inlet valve, means connecting the other end portion of the arm to the outlet valve, and a manually actu'ated plunger. outside the, tank and engaging the arm to rockably actuate the same. i

2. 'In a'toilet flush mechanism, the combination of a flushtank'having an inlet and an outlet, a semi-automatic inlet valve for the inlet, said inlet valve comprising a seat, a valve element'heldkcaptive within said housing and adapted toibe disposed on said seat and to be sepa rated from said seat, a rod secured to said valve element and protruding outwardly from said housing, a guide, means secured to said housing and secured to said guide for supporting said guide in alignment with said opening in said housing, said rod slidably disposed in said guide, a float connected to said rod for closing the inlet valve which is opened by a depressing movement of the float, a semi-automatic valve for the outlet and opened by a raising movement, an arm pivoted between its ends inside the tank and having one end portion overlying and in direct engagement withlthe float to depress the float for opening the inlet valve, means connecting the other end portion of the arm to the outlet valve, and a handle on the tank and connected to the' arm for actuating the; same. 20

:References Cited the file of this patent V V UNITED STATES PATENTS Fleming; 1511.13, 1925 Tow May 11, 1943 Smith July 13, 1948 housing attached to and registered with said inletiand having an opening at its top forming a valve element 

